Stay Ahead of the AI Curve

Before-AI. After-AI.  With each passing week, we’re growing more convinced that life as we know it will change drastically in the next few years.

AI isn’t a magic bullet -- but it IS going to make things so much easier and more efficient. All those endless hours spent trying to find an answer, fix an issue, or get something done will be a relic of the past. This truly is the Age of Generative AI.

In this week’s edition, we’re looking at two major areas notorious for wasted hours: house hunting and those dreaded customer service calls. Plus, we’ve got tax prep ChatGPT advice and AI-inspired retro art for your canine companion.

Let’s dive in!  

AI Home Buying

Ever felt house hunting should be more thrill and less grind? Get ready for Tomo (not to be confused with the meditation app of the same name we featured a few weeks ago) -- an AI-powered real estate app that’s about to revolutionize the way we search for our dream homes, aiming to make house hunting a more personalized experience, and turn home buyers into potentially savvy investors.

How it Works: After narrowing your search by price, zip code, number of bedrooms and baths as you would other online portals, you can use the app’s built-in free-text search capabilities.  Simply enter details about your dream home in your own words, such as "fenced backyard," "two-car garage," or "close to public transportation" in the search bar. The app understands and processes natural language to match listings that meet your specific criteria, going beyond basic filters like beds and baths.

Our test run: We signed up with an eye on buying a place along North Carolina’s coast close to Wilmington. We weren’t picky on what type of home we wanted, but we did ask for a 3-bedroom, 2-bath property, and then this: “I'd like a modern property along the coast with garage parking, a screened porch or patio and easy access to main roads.” We got a wide range of choices starting at $260K and going all the way up to over $3M.

Transparency vs. privacy: Tomo also offers access to detailed financial information on listings, including the names of current owners, their original loan amount, and the estimated remaining mortgage balance. According to Tomo’s creators, this transparency provides a strategic advantage by revealing the seller's financial position, which can inform your negotiation strategy and potential offer price. Homeowners who don’t want their financial details made public can opt out, ensuring a balance between innovative technology and individual privacy.

Tomo currently covers half of the country's listings and is available in major cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles. Happy house hunting!

AI Customer Service

In today's digital landscape, the journey through customer service can often resemble a frustrating game of cat and mouse. Automated voice prompts seem to have a mind of their own, and trying to reach a real human who can solve your issue can feel like cracking a secret code. Customer service is ripe for disruption and AI might just be the answer.

We were amazed when we read about Klarna – the Swedish fintech giant that quietly launched an AI assistant globally a little more than a month ago. The numbers speak for themselves:

• The AI assistant has handled more than 2.3 million conversations, two-thirds of Klarna’s customer service chats.

• It is juggling the workload of 700 full-time agents.

• In terms of customer satisfaction scores, it matches human agents.

• When it comes to resolving issues, the AI assistant is more accurate, leading to a 25% drop in repeat inquiries.

• Customers now resolve their tasks in less than 2 minutes, a significant improvement from the previous 11-minute duration.

The AI assistant is available in 23 markets, operates 24/7, and communicates in more than 35 languages. According to Klarna’s CEO, the ChatGPT-powered assistance is estimated to drive $40 million in profit improvement to the company this year.

We had to share – not because we’re thrilled that job losses could be on the horizon. It’s the idea of spending less time on hold and more time doing what we love. Now that's something to smile about!

ChatGPT Chatter

It’s getting to be tax season’s ‘crunch time’ in the US again with a little more than a month before the April 15^th deadline to file. If you haven’t gotten your taxes done, or at least gathered all those bits of paper and downloaded the forms you need for your accountant, you might be tempted to turn to ChatGPT to do your taxes, or at least to spot some chances for tax savings.

While we love sharing practical AI tools to enhance our everyday lives, we want to be sure you only use ChatGPT very carefully for such a complex undertaking. Here’s why:

• ChatGPT's Limited Tax Knowledge: Due to its April 2023 knowledge cutoff, ChatGPT can't offer the latest tax updates, such as 2024's changes to tax brackets, deductions, and IRS Free File eligibility, potentially leading to inaccuracies in tax filings. Other comparable chatbots might be able to access the live web, but there is still risk that their information may be inaccurate or outdated.

•  Risk of Data Leaks with ChatGPT: Sharing personal financial details with ChatGPT poses a risk due to potential data breaches, evidenced by past incidents where users' chat histories were exposed, risking identity theft and financial fraud.

• ChatGPT's Limitations in Math: ChatGPT and similar chatbots can struggle with accurate calculations. So looking for the tax break is one thing, calculating it another.

The usual online tax preparation apps are beginning to incorporate AI into their logic, and that’s almost certainly a better way to go. But used carefully, ChatGPT can be another resource. Remember to get those taxes done!

Tail Wagging Travels

Imagine turning your pooch into the star of their own retro travel adventure! Now you can with an art piece that echoes the nostalgic charm of yesteryear.

Jim Henderson, a former art director who began pursuing photography when he was 55, draws inspiration from the retro travel posters he’s admired over the years. Using an AI program combined with Photoshop work and a personalized design aesthetic, he first began experimenting with portraits of his own dogs. It wasn’t long before his posters captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. .

What sets Henderson's work apart is not just the endearing subject matter, but his approach to the creative process. Rather than relying solely on photographs as prompts for AI image generators, he dives deeper, asking pet owners to fill out a profile sheet for their dogs. This allows him to craft a more personal and meaningful image that captures the essence of each dog's character.  His unique process is featured in this video.

Heads up:  you might need a bit of patience if you want your own signature poster. Jim’s website says delivery time is now 7-8 weeks due to the high demand. Posters cost $250 for each dog.

So, the next time you glance at your dog, think of them not just as your loyal companion, but as a potential vintage superstar. After all, in the world of art and AI, every dog has its day – and its very own poster.

AI in the News (in case you missed it)

• AI is here to stay. How to stay relevant in the job market. Read here.

• Our fingerprints may not be unique, AI claims. Read here.

• How to spot AI-generated videos. Watch here.

• Artificial intelligence outperforms humans in creative thinking. Read here.

• Alibaba's EMO AI video generator makes photos talk and sing. Read and watch here.

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Here.Now.AI Editorial team: Lori, Justin, and Lisa